PIL Discussion Group: The European Court of Human Rights: a look behind the scenes

Drawing on his nine years experience as judge of the European Court of Human Rights, elected in respect of the United Kingdom (2016-2025), Sir Tim Eicke KC will provide an insider’s view of the work and the workings of this busy international court.

Sir Tim Eicke, University of Dundee

Sir Tim Eicke K.C. is a barrister practising from Essex Court Chambers in London. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993 (Northern Ireland in 2025) and appointed Q.C. (now K.C.) in 2011.

From September 2016 to September 2025, Sir Tim was the judge at the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of the United Kingdom. He was knighted “for services to the protection of Human Rights in Europe” in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List. 

During his term at the Court, Sir Tim was involved in more than 900 reported decisions and judgments, including most recently the Grand Chamber judgments in Semenya v Switzerland, Ukraine and Netherlands v Russia and Verein Klimaseniorinnen Schweiz v Switzerland, and acted as a duty judge in more than 800 cases.

Before he was elected to the Court, Sir Tim was considered one of the leading advocates at the Bar of England and Wales, focussing on international and domestic disputes involving public international law, European Union law, International Human Rights law as well as Public and Constitutional Law, including refugee law.

 In 2017, he was awarded an honorary doctorate (LLD (h.c.)) by the University of Dundee.